The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) will open its doors to the public in Dubai this week on April 18. PCFC Hotels – part of the Dubai government’s Ports, Customs and Free Zones Corporation – has reinvented the legendary vessel as the latest must-see tourism destination.

The world-famous cruise liner, which has a history spanning five decades, is now docked permanently at Mina Rashid, where her dining, accommodation and entertainment attractions will be unveiled. Her opening marks the first phase or soft opening of several stages in which segments of the liner will be opened and released for a unique experience capturing all that was grand about her forty years of service. The grand launch of the QE2 will take place in October 2018.

“To finally open the QE2 is a dream come true for my team and I. It is one of Dubai’s most highly anticipated projects and we know that a lot of people are going to be very excited to see her for the first time, or to step back on board the vessel that created so many wonderful memories during her 40 years at sea,” says Hamza Mustafa, CEO of PCFC Hotels.

The 13-deck hotel has been thoughtfully restored to her former glory – maintaining her most loved interior design features – including her period furniture, renowned paintings and famous memorabilia. The original porthole windows still add a maritime feel to the attractive modernised guest rooms and a number of her original restaurants have retained the same names and décor as her former years. Whilst extensively preserving her authentic elements, QE2 has been fully equipped with all the latest technology.

Adjacent to the hotel lobby is the QE2 Exhibition – an interactive museum that showcases the QE2 during the 60’s when she was a pioneer in design, technology and lifestyle.

During the soft launch of the QE2, passengers can experience some of the ship’s original restaurants including The Chart Room – a sophisticated and historical lounge and bar; The Golden Lion – a traditional English pub and potentially one of Dubai’s oldest; The Pavilion – a family restaurant with an expansive terrace overlooking the marina; Lido – the hotel’s all-day-dining restaurant; The Grand Lounge – a cabaret-style lounge with a weekly entertainment programme; and the Yacht Club – a chic rendition of the former venue as well as a unique take on the traditional afternoon tea. The hotel’s signature restaurant is The Queens Grill which offers a refined selection of British fine-dining dishes as well as a tasting menu that recreates a classic selection of dishes from 1969.

The QE2 is also home to a number of unique event and meeting room spaces, most notably The Queen’s Room – an inimitable ballroom unlike any other in the city.